The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has flagged major irregularities in the functioning of several unaided private schools across the state, pointing to violations of provisions under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
In a press statement issued on February 27, the Commission said inspections revealed serious lapses, including non-adherence to the prescribed pupil-teacher ratio (PTR), incidents of corporal punishment and bullying, absence of school counsellors, lack of parental involvement, and arbitrary disciplinary actions in some institutions.
According to the panel, some schools were found accommodating as many as 80 to 90 students in a single classroom with just one teacher — a clear violation of PTR norms. Such overcrowding, it noted, not only affects the quality of education but also puts immense pressure on teachers and impacts students’ mental and emotional well-being.
The Commission also expressed concern over reports of corporal punishment and unchecked bullying despite a legal ban on such practices. It observed that the absence of proper preventive and monitoring systems has caused distress among students.
Another major concern highlighted was the failure of several schools to appoint counsellors, which the Commission described as a significant gap in safeguarding students’ psychological health, in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
It further stated that in some unaided private schools, democratically elected Parents’ or Guardians’ Associations have either not been formed or are not allowed to function properly, going against the participatory framework envisioned under the RTE Act and CBSE guidelines.
Instances of arbitrary issuance of Transfer Certificates and suspension of students without proper counselling or reformative measures were also reported. Additionally, certain schools were found lacking internal grievance redressal mechanisms for teachers.
The Commission has directed the institutions concerned to strictly comply with PTR and infrastructure norms, form functional parents’ committees, appoint counsellors, and establish proper grievance redressal systems. It has warned that compliance will be closely monitored and necessary action will follow if violations continue.